Stephen Harper unimpressed with talk of thawed relations toward Iran

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper downplayed any talk on Tuesday about a thawing of relations with Iran, saying that the signs of new era with Tehran should be measured in actions, not in words.

Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill, Harper smiled as he responded to questions about U.S. President Barack Obama’s olive branch to Iran during the American leader’s speech to the United Nations, suggesting he couldn’t fault Obama and other allies for trying to revive relations with the Iranian regime, and break an impasse over Tehran’s nuclear program.

“On the rapprochement, one will see. I certainly cannot fault President Obama and our allies from trying,” Harper said hours after Obama’s speech.

“My sincere advice would be that when it comes to the government of Iran, we should carefully monitor deeds far more than words.”

On Tuesday morning, Obama stood before world leaders at the United Nations, and suggested that the “more moderate course” being charted by Iran’s new government — including sending out well-wishes to Jews on the occasion of the Jewish new year — could be the foundation for a diplomatic end to concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, specifically worries that it is creating nuclear weapons.

Iran has repeatedly denied it is pursuing nuclear weapons.

Harper has previously said that Iran is one of the most dangerous threats to peace and stability in the world, mirroring a stance by Israel, which the Harper government calls one of its closest foreign allies.

But Obama opened the door for direct diplomatic relations with Iran on Tuesday, tasking Secretary of State John Kerry to pursue talks with Tehran, and saying that “the roadblocks may prove to be too great, but I firmly believe the diplomatic path must be tested.”

Canada closed its embassy in Tehran just over a year ago, severing diplomatic ties with the government of then Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Harper said that Canada won’t reopen the embassy in Iran until his government feels it is sending Canadian diplomats into a secure environment.

“We ended that diplomatic presence because of our increased uncertainty about the safety of our personnel and we will not return until we think those kinds of questions can be adequately addressed,” Harper said.

Harper made the comments while standing alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was in Ottawa to discuss trade and announce closer defence ties. The two countries have been negotiating a trade deal to boost export of natural liquefied gas and other energy products from Canada to Japan.

A government-produced study of the trade deal estimated that an agreement could boost Canada’s gross domestic product annually by $3.8 billion US and increase trade to Japan by 67 per cent, or about $7.1 billion more in goods. For Japan, the study estimated a larger financial effect: as much as $4.4 billion annual boost in GDP.

A March 2012 briefing note prepared for Harper on the eve of his announcement of the launch of free-trade talks with Japan outlined that country’s increasing need for gas and coal, have “put pressure on Japan’s budget deficit an resulted in an increase in its carbon emissions.” The briefing note said Canada’s traditional role as supplier of coal to Japan had recently been eroded “as Japan switches to cheaper, lower quality coal from Australia and the U.S.”

A copy of the briefing note was released to Postmedia News under access to information law.

On Tuesday, Harper said the two governments have made “good progress” on a deal, and outlined how energy ministers for both countries would be redoubling efforts on trade talks affecting their file.

“It would be fair to say that while there are many areas for increased growth in our trade and investment relationship, the one that came up most frequently is obviously energy,” Harper said. “Canada is the only country in the world that is a stable, market-oriented producer of energy, whose energy industry is also in growth and so we have special assets to offer there and obviously Japan is the largest single importer of energy products in the world. So there’s obviously a natural partnership there and in many other areas.”

Abe, who was elected last year and has promised radical economic changes to a country mired in debt, goes to New York City this week. Harper was heading there on Monday. There, Abe will address the United Nations General Assembly — unlike Harper, who will spurn the UN — so he can outline his country’s economic policies, known colloquially as “Abenomics,” which have won him popularity at home.

“In the forum of the United Nations General Assembly, I would like to present my views on the direction we are pursuing to contribute to the international community,” Abe said through an interpreter. “That is why I’m making a speech at the United Nations General Assembly.”

In contrast, Harper said he regularly goes to the United Nations and New York City with cabinet ministers for diplomatic and business meetings, which he will do this week, including a panel discussion with Melinda Gates, founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the deputy secretary general of the UN. Harper said his decision to not address the UN is not unusual for a Canadian prime minister.

“It is not the practice of the prime ministers of Canada to make a speech a the UN each year,” Harper said in French.

In 2010, Canada failed to win a temporary seat on the UN Security Council.

1877: First known Japanese immigrant arrived in Canada; Manzo Nagano settled in Victoria, B.C.

1929: Diplomatic relations between Canada and Japan were established.

1942: In response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, nearly 21,000 Japanese-Canadians (most Canadian nationals) were moved from Pacific coastal areas into internment camps. Their properties and businesses were seized. After the war ended, most were forced to move east of the Rocky Mountains or relocate to Japan.

-Foreign direct investment by Japan in Canada was worth $17.4 billion, while Canadian investment in Japan was worth $6.3 billion last year.

-Tourists visiting from Japan were the seventh-largest national group in 2012, 190,000 strong, worth $312 million in tourist spending. 176,900 Canadians visited Japan last year, spending $186.8 million.